Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Little Yoho.
Heating over the last two days has added a lot of moisture to the snowpack. Expect crusts to break down quickly at lower elevations and watch locally for cloud cover overnight which will prevent a good freeze. Spring Conditions !
Weather Forecast
A very weak freeze Saturday AM and strong solar input has added to isothermal conditions. Areas of little Yoho are forecast to see some cloudy periods Saturday night with plenty of sunny breaks though the day Sunday. Winds will be mainly light and freezing levels to around 2500m
Snowpack Summary
We are into a spring cycle for most of the Little Yoho area except in the high alpine. Dry snow exists only in high North facing terrain. Occasional pockets of deep instability may still be encountered and triggered from warm or shallow locations.
Avalanche Summary
A cycle of loose wet avalanches likely occurred with the reasonably strong heating Saturday mainly on South and Western aspects.
Confidence
Avalanche Problems
Loose Wet
Avoid steep slopes or gullies as the day heats up and the crust on top of the snowpack melts. Plan to finish early over the next few days.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 1 - 2
Persistent Slabs
There are several buried sun crusts exist in the upper snowpack and it remains possible to trigger these layers once the surface crusts break down during any prolonged heating from the sun.
- Travel early before the heat of the day, and avoid big slopes in the afternoon.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East, South.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Unlikely - Possible
Expected Size: 2 - 3
Cornices
Cornices are large. Give them a wide berth on ridge crests, as they can pull back a long way when they fail and may trigger an avalanche below. If you need to travel under cornices, move quickly but think twice if there is significant heating.
- Cornices become weak with daytime heating, so travel early on exposed slopes.
Aspects: North, North East, East, South East.
Elevations: Alpine.
Likelihood: Likely
Expected Size: 2 - 3